Official: UT hires Kim Caldwell as the new coach for Lady Vols basketball

[DaddyChad]

This woman has been a HC for 8 years and has won close to 90% (.875) of those games. I think I will consider this a good hire until my eyes tell me it wasn't. All of y'all about to jump off the ledge look absolutely ridiculous IMO.

I don’t doubt her ability to coach. She just has to prove she can recruit.

 

[Majac]

I am willing to cut her some slack when she beats LSU, SC, OLE Miss, Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. Gonna be tough unless she is a great recruiter. Run and gun doesn't always work well in the SEC. Just look at Arkansas.

I forgot to add Texas and Oklahoma

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

I don’t doubt her ability to coach. She just has to prove she can recruit.

You know players want to play for winners, right?

 

[RAVOL]

I am willing to cut her some slack when she beats LSU, SC, OLE Miss, Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. Gonna be tough unless she is a great recruiter. Run and gun doesn't always work well in the SEC. Just look at Arkansas.

Big difference Arkansas doesn't play Defense they are really bad at it.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

I don’t doubt her ability to coach. She just has to prove she can recruit.

I think she'll be able to. Similar to Heupel's offense, players want to play in her type of offense. Tennessee is an elite campus with a great location and the best athletic facilities & admin/training departments.

The NiL will be the key. The Lady Vols have a lot of power, locally and nationally. If it comes down solely to an NiL #, I think we get the players we want (without just paying ridiculous amounts money). I am confident the NiL will be competitive with any NiL from another top program.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

If you just thought of the generics you'd want in a coach, what would you look for? . . . a high-octane, lethal offense and a nightmare, smothering, persistent defense would be what most people would ask for. If I had the opportunity to have a coach that has implemented that type of offense & defense for 8 years and wins at nearly a 90% clip, I'd hire them immediately.

We didn't basement shop. We didn't scramble to the bottom of the list. We're lucky to have an AD that identified her and has the balls to get her this early in her career.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I see the rationale I really do. It makes sense

But I hope Coach Caldwell doesn't (and Coach Sam finds a nice spot somewhere else) for the same reason that a new CEO generally cleans house when taking over. The legacy of a subperforming group has to be eradicated, even if it is not the underlings fault. Sam would be a reminder of the old guard and that can't be.

If you are the new leader, you get "your people" in place and you make they are damned good at what they do.
I am guessing that logic as much as anything, had something to do with White making the change.

Kind of like self identifying fans that on this board. Many on here have had zero value add to the program or at a minimum their posts have a net negative impact on all visitors, but especially prospects and their support folks. They all need to go.

Taking shots at a coach before the first class is assembled, first practice is run, or the first game is played, and especially before the introductory presser is a capital REAL FAN offense. Heck, not even seen the initial staff.

They have used their free speech rights to convict themselves. The impact of trolls and egotistical self professed fans is the same. Treatment should be too. Discretion is required in any relationship. They have passed on applying any.

 

[Majac]

You know players want to play for winners, right?

What elite player wants to commit to a coach with one year at a mid-major college, with a blowout loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Winning at D2 won't attract names also being recruited by Uconn, Texas, LSU, SC, Stanford, USC, and now even Kentucky. (and more) BTW, how did Kentucky end up with Kenny Brooks and we get a Newby who may or may not advance the program.

 

[SDV]

What elite player wants to commit to a coach with one year at a mid-major college, with a blowout loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Winning at D2 won't attract names also being recruited by Uconn, Texas, LSU, SC, Stanford, USC, and now even Kentucky. (and more) BTW, how did Kentucky end up with Kenny Brooks and we get a Newby who may or may not advance the program.

We should pin all of these posts for the future

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

What elite player wants to commit to a coach with one year at a mid-major college, with a blowout loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Winning at D2 won't attract names also being recruited by Uconn, Texas, LSU, SC, Stanford, USC, and now even Kentucky. (and more) BTW, how did Kentucky end up with Kenny Brooks and we get a Newby who may or may not advance the program.

Winners win. Winners want to play for winners. If she wins, they will come.

 

[Majac]

If you just thought of the generics you'd want in a coach, what would you look for? . . . a high-octane, lethal offense and a nightmare, smothering, persistent defense would be what most people would ask for. If I had the opportunity to have a coach that has implemented that type of offense & defense for 8 years and wins at nearly a 90% clip, I'd hire them immediately.

We didn't basement shop. We didn't scramble to the bottom of the list. We're lucky to have an AD that identified her and got her this early in her career.

Easy to smother defensively at D2, not so much in the SEC. She will either succeed or we will be screaming for Danny White's head.

 

[Majac]

Winners win. Winners want to play for winners. If she wins, they will come.

But they must come before you can win at a high level.

 

[JohnnyPayne]

Will all of the people praising the hire still be doing the same when she doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament next year? Not her fault. She’s a proven d2 coach, but keep that same energy next March.

Again, her saving grace is that DW will get her NIL money so he can save face from firing our top 3-4 SEC coach. Hopefully she schedules a good portion of the Conference USA as opposed to our #1 schedule nationally this past season with 20 wins.

 

[Jcarter]

Is the press conference on Monday?

 

[DaddyChad]

You know players want to play for winners, right?

Oh I’m a fan of the hire. Simply pointing out the painfully obvious. I think she’s a great hire as a coach. I think she can be successful here.

 

[MadMaxSC]

I’m sorry but this just isn’t a good hire. I cannot wrap my head around firing kellie who has proven she can atleast win for this. It’s a slap in the face.

Sorry, but I disagree with you. KH was 12-37 against ranked opponents. Her wins came from mediocre & bad teams. She only recruited 3 Freshmen in the past two years. You can't sustain a program with JC transfers and portal gains. In the Women's game, the players usually stay in school for 4 years (no one and done). It's important to go out and get Freshmen. Who knows? There might be a Ju-Ju or Hildago in the class.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Easy to smother defensively at D2, not so much in the SEC. She will either succeed or we will be screaming for Danny White's head.

she was competing with an equal talent level in those divisions. She'll have a similar talent level to other SEC schools, she'll do the same thing here she's done everywhere else, win, because she's a winner.

 

[DaddyChad]

If you just thought of the generics you'd want in a coach, what would you look for? . . . a high-octane, lethal offense and a nightmare, smothering, persistent defense would be what most people would ask for. If I had the opportunity to have a coach that has implemented that type of offense & defense for 8 years and wins at nearly a 90% clip, I'd hire them immediately.

We didn't basement shop. We didn't scramble to the bottom of the list. We're lucky to have an AD that identified her and has the balls to get her this early in her career.

For cheap as well. All indications point to her being great if she’s not we can change course without it being financial hell

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Will all of the people praising the hire still be doing the same when she doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament next year? Not her fault. She’s a proven d2 coach, but keep that same energy next March.

Again, her saving grace is that DW will get her NIL money so he can save face from firing our top 3-4 SEC coach. Hopefully she schedules a good portion of the Conference USA as opposed to our #1 schedule nationally this past season with 20 wins.

If she doesnt make the tournament, it will be Kellie Harpers fault.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

But they must come before you can win at a high level.

One of these things is not like the others....

 

[JohnnyPayne]

If she doesnt make the tournament, it will be Kellie Harpers fault.

Ok lol.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

For cheap as well. All indications point to her being great if she’s not we can change course without it being financial hell

I love the contract. A reasonable annual salary with the potential to be the highest paid coach in America. That's how all contracts should be. I think everyone on the Hill is happy with this contract.

 

[volforlife10]

Sorry, but I disagree with you. KH was 12-37 against ranked opponents. Her wins came from mediocre & bad teams. She only recruited 3 Freshmen in the past two years. You can't sustain a program with JC transfers and portal gains. In the Women's game, the players usually stay in school for 4 years (no one and done). It's important to go out and get Freshmen. Who knows? There might be a Ju-Ju or Hildago in the class.

but KC hasn’t proven she can win or recruit at this level. that’s what they’re trying to say. yes, we know kellie didn’t do AMAZING here, but she was “good.” i hope kim can elevate us above that good mark, but she isn’t at marshall anymore. she’s recruiting against dawn, kenny, vic, mulkey, etc. she’s inexperienced at this level, ppl have every right to be wary of that.

 

[glv98]

Meeting the squad!!

Makes me sick because it means it’s really going to happen. I still can’t believe it. Why in the world? It just makes no sense.

 

[Majac]

Will all of the people praising the hire still be doing the same when she doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament next year? Not her fault. She’s a proven d2 coach, but keep that same energy next March.

Again, her saving grace is that DW will get her NIL money so he can save face from firing our top 3-4 SEC coach. Hopefully she schedules a good portion of the Conference USA as opposed to our #1 schedule nationally this past season with 20 wins.

Thanks, I've been thinking the same thing.